Who eats all the pies? Salt surfeit puts men at risk, survey reveals

A pie with your pint can contain as much salt as 15 packets of crisps, according to research which says men are risking their lives by regularly tucking into the popular dish. Pubs are the worst offenders for the high salt content of their meals which can cause high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease but supermarkets are also highlighted for their salt-laden pies.

The survey by Cash (Consensus Action on Salt and Health) for Salt Awareness Week looked at 526 pie, mash and gravy products from supermarkets, large chain pubs, cafes and takeaways, after identifying traditional English meat dishes as one of men's favourite foods.

In the UK, over twice as many men as women die prematurely of heart problems and strokes.

The worst supermarket offender was a Waitrose steak, mushroom and red wine pie containing 1g of salt per 100g. This is over three times as much salt per 100g as the lowest supermarket products such as Asda's Chosen by You creamy chicken and mushroom puff pastry pie with 0.3g of salt per 100g. The saltiest meal overall was a chicken and mushroom pie with chips or mash, gravy and peas from JD Wetherspoon with 7.5g of salt. The recommended daily maximum for an adult is 6g.

Cash's campaign director, Katharine Jenner, said: "It would be unfair to say pubs are putting in salt to make people drink more, but that could be a consideration. Of course in the past pubs would put salted peanuts on the bar to encourage drinkers. Supermarkets have been making an effort to reduce the salt content in their foods but pubs do not have the same control."

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said the company was taking steps to reduce salt levels.